Best Day Trips Around Waterlooville

Now that our thoughts are turning towards Spring and the Easter break, it’s time to get your car out on the road for more than just the weekday commute. Your vehicle can after all take you and your family anywhere to unlock a range of experiences and, most importantly, help you make memories. The summer months are the perfect time to take a road trip, whether it’s just a day trip you have in mind or a staycation that’s a little longer. Here at Collison Motoring Services, we’re proud to call Waterlooville our home. As well as being an excellent base to do business, it’s also an exciting place for all the family to enjoy.

In this blog post, we take a closer look at just some of the day trips you can enjoy in and around Waterlooville so you can start planning a summer to remember.

Enjoy green spaces galore

There are a number of green, open spaces to explore in and around Waterlooville, perfect for wiling away those summer days. Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Horndean offers extensive woodland and dramatic scenery across the wider South Downs National Park. As well as enjoying all that nature has to offer, there’s lots of things to do. Take the kids to the adventure play area and under-8s play area, become a real life action hero at the on-site assault course, go bird watching at Butser Hill Nature Reserve, take your furry friends along to the dog activity area, and enjoy a short interactive story trail at Queen Elizabeth Park. Cycle across some exhilarating routes, walk over 2,000 acres of open access woodland and downland, shop, eat and even host your own BBQ here too.

Want to hop in the car and travel a little further? Staunton Park in nearby Havant and Stansted Park in Rowlands Castle are must sees. The latter contains a stunning historical house as well as extensive grounds. Staunton Park is also home to a farm and lots of friendly animals, whilst its Golden Jubilee Maze unlocks hours of family fun.

Explore history and heritage

Castles are fixtures here in the South of England so those looking to explore the region’s history and heritage on their upcoming day trip around Waterlooville won’t be disappointed. Portchester Castle is located just a 20 minutes’ drive away from Waterlooville, and provides a fun family day out and an insight into the Solent’s defences. Originally constructed in the late 3rd century, Portchester Castle contains a number of exhibitions that take you through the life of the castle over the centuries.

Arundel Castle is another great place to absorb the history of the region. Based 21 miles away, it’s loved by locals and tourists alike.

Experience market life

Shop until you drop at Waterlooville Market on London Road. Taking place every Friday between 8am and 4pm, the market sells everything you could dream of, including clothes, fresh flowers, make-up, and fresh, locally sourced produce. The weekly market isn’t the only place where you can experience the great quality food and drink that Waterlooville has to offer. The area has a number of local pubs and eateries that will be certain to play a starring role in your summer day trips, wherever you end up heading.

Live like a local

Whether you live close to Waterlooville or are travelling in from further afield, the area hosts a number of events, particularly over the summer season. The Waterlooville Classic Motor Show is just one iconic event that’s coming up in July, whilst the Waterlooville annual Summer Fete in August provides a diverse range of fun activities and performances to enjoy.